Gate latch



Dec. l, 1951 E THOMAS A 2,577,930

GATE LATCH Filed June 1.7, 1949l INVENTOR. AMUELEDGA .e 12"/-f0M/ns2 BYY Arroz/vers Patented Dec. Il, i951 UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIcE GATELATCH I Samuel Edgar Thomas, Enid, Okla.

Application June'17, 1949, Serial No. 99,703

' 4 claims. (o1. 292-68) This invention relates to latching means for aswinging gate, such as a stock and yard gate which may swing to eitherside of the fence and which will automatically latch when moved to aclosed position.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved gatelatch of this character for application to a cylindrical metal gatepost.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gate latch of the abovementioned character which is composed of few strong, durable andrelatively inexpensive parts, and which cannot be opened by animals butis easily released by hand.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the device that thegate latch may be easily secured in its latching position by a pad lock.Y

'Ihe above and other objects and advantages will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description of the present preferred embodiment ofthe invention in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the upper portion of a conventional formof fence and gate, showing the application of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a detail section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l looking in thedirection of the arrows,

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the latch in one of itsgate releasing positions,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the swinging latch member, and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the stationary latch member.

Referring more in detail to the drawing I denotes a gate arrangedbetween posts II and I2 in a fence I3. The gate is supported from postII by suitable hinges I4 to swing to either side of the fence. Theimproved latch is mounted on the gate post l2 to coact with the verticalend bar I of the gate as seen in Fig. 1 in which the gate is latched inits closed position. It is to be understood that the fence and the gatemay take various forms according to the intended uses.

The gate latching means comprises a xed latch member I6 xed to post I2and a coacting movable latch member I'I slidably and rotatably mountedon a cylindrical portion of post I2 and normally supported on the memberI6 as shown in Fig. 1. The stationary member preferably comprises acylindrical sleeve I8 and an upright locking arm I9. 'I'he sleeve may bewelded or otherwise secured on the post but as shown in Fig. 5 it hasdiametrical openings to receive a fastening pin, bolt or the like 20.The arm I9 is in the form of a :dat plate having its lower end welded orotherwise secured to the sleeve so that the arm will be disposedradially of and close to the post I2.

The movable latch member I'I comprises an elongated body having at oneend a substantially cylindrical hub portion 2| to loosely receive postI2 and at its other end a forked portion 22 to receive the end bar I5 ofthe gate. The intermediate portion of member I'I is formed with avertical slot or opening 23 to loosely receive the locking arm or plateI9. The member I'I may be cast or molded in one piece or it may beformed by bending a heavy strip of metal to the desired shape andwelding a cross bar 24 between its bent portions. If desired suitablehandles 25 may be provided on its opposite sides.

The height of the locking arm I9 above the flat upper edge of sleeve I8is greater than the height of the cylindrical portion 2l of the movablelatch member so that when the latter rests on sleeve I8 as seen in Fig.1 the upper end of the arm projects above said member. The projectingend of the arm is preferably formed with an opening 26 to receive theshackle of a pad lock (not shown) and thus permit the gate to be lockedin its closed position.

It will be apparent that so long as the latch member I'I is in itslowered position with the,l arm I9 projecting through it, the gatecannot swing open, but when said member is slid upwardly on the post toa point above the top of the arm I9, a push on the gate in eitherdirection will cause the member II to rotate on the post so that thegate end bar may leave the forked or bifurcated end of the latch, aswill be understood on reference to Fig. 3. When the forked end 22 of thelatch swings in either direction from its latching position, the memberI1 will rest on and be supported by the top of the arm IS, as will beunderstood on reference to Fig. 3.

It is desirable that the movable latch Il remain in its angled positionshown in Fig. 3 so that when the gate again swings to its closedposition it will pick up the latch and swing it back to the position ofFig. 1, whereupon the latch will drop down over the locking arm andautomatically latch the gate in closed position. I therefore providecoacting stop means on the post and the latch. As shown avertical stoppin 2l projects upwardly from the hub portion 2| for coaction with apair of radial and circumferentially spaced stop pins 28 and 29 providedon post I 2. These pins may be welded to the post or may be providedwith screw threaded ends 39 for engagement with tapped openings in thepost.

These pins are so positioned that one or the other, will be engaged bythe pin 21 according to the direction of opening movement of the gate.The pins 28 and 29 also serve as stops to limit the upwardly slidingmovement of the latch I1 when the latter has been lifted slightly abovethe top of arm i9.

It is believed the operation of the device and many of its advantageswill be apparent from the foregoing. It may be noted however that bymounting the latch on the gate post, no pivot pins or parts subject towear are necessary, and the use of a keeper plate secured by bolts,rivets, etc. is rendered unnecessary. The parts may be applied to thepost at the factory or on the job, and are strong, durable andrelatively inexpensive. Even though the gate has a single ,latch whichmay be easily opened by hand, there is no likelihood of the gate beingopened by animals. The latch is adapted for yard gates as well as forstock enclosures or industrial fencing. The constructionis also suchthat the gate may be quick-ly and conveniently secured closed by a padlock.

From the foregoing. taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,itwill be seen that novel and advantageous provision has-been made forcarrying out the objects of .the invention, and

while'preferences have been disclosed, attention` is invited to thepossibility of making lvariations within the scope .of the .invention asclaimed.

`I claim: y

l. A gate latch for .mounting on a post having a cylindrical portion,.said 4latch comprising a movable latch member A.of elongated formYhav-- ing at one endy a fork to receive the end bar of a gate and atits other .end -a .substantiallycylindrical portion adapted to-beslidably and rotatably mounted .on the cylindrical .portion ,of .saidpost,4 the intermediate portionlof said member having a vertical slot,astationary latch member including a .cylindrical sleeve adapted tosurround andV yto :be `fixed to said post for normally supporting saidmovable latch membensaid stationary latch .member .also including .a=vertically disposed locking arm .having .itslower end fixed .to saidsleeve and its upper end extending @through and above said slot whensaid movable member is supported .on said sleeve, .the projecting .end.of said Aarmhaving an openingto receive .the shackle of a pad lock,said movable .member .being ,upwardly slidable .to a lposition abovevthe top .of said ,arm whereby said movable member may be rotated whilebeing Asupported `on said arm, and

coactlng means on said post and said movable member to limit the upwardmovement of the latter and its rotary movement when it rests upon thetop of said arm.

2. A gate latch for mounting on a post having a cylindrical portion,said latch comprising a stationary latch member adapted to be fixed tosaid post, said member including a cylindrical sleeve having a nat topand a locking arm projecting upwardly from the top of said sleeve anddisposed close to and parallel with `the cylindrical portion of saidpost. a coacting movable latch member adapted to surround thecylindrical portion of said post and to be slidably and rotatablymounted thereon, said movable member having A'at one end a forkedportion to receive the end harof a gate and at its other end asubstantially cylindrical hub portion to surround the post and normally-rest on the flat top of said sleeve, said movable member having in itsintermediate portion a vertical lslot-to ,receive Seid locking am: :t0prevent :rotary movement of said movable member when iis hub rests onsaid sleeve. said mbvable member .being vertically slidable to clearthef top of said arm and permit rotary movement .of the movable :memberwhen the latter :is supported on the top efsaid arm and means tolimitthe extent bf the `rbtary movement .of said :movable member:when-it. is supported on said arm.

`il. The structu-veof claim 2in which said means includes :an .uprightstop pin on .the Vhub portion of said movable member .to `coast withcircumferentially spaced radial .stop pins carried by .said post, saidlast mentioned .pins also limiting the upward movement nf said movablemember on.

said post.

4. The structure of claim 2 in which the topo! saidlocking .arm.projects above the slotted portion of fsaid movable member when :thelatter rests on fthefsleeve offsa'id stationary member,

proyecting Aportionof `saidarm having an opening to receive the shackleof a padlock.

`SAMUEL EDGAR THOMAS.

REFERENCES l CI'ITEB The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATIENTS

